Rug rack

ABSTRACT

The rack displays rugs in a showroom and includes a plurality of rug hangers pivotally mounted at their upper ends on a hinge bar and at their lower ends on a pivot bar so that half of the rug hangers will normally move by gravity in one direction while the other half will normally move by gravity in the other direction to normally display the rugs hanging on the two centermost rug hangers.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Ni1e C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Kinzer, Dorn & Zickert ABSTRACT: The rack displays rugs in a showroom and includes a plurality of rug hangers pivotally mounted at their upper ends on a hinge bar and at their lower ends on a pivot bar so that half of the rug hangers will normally move by gravity in one direction while the other half will normally move by gravity in the other direction to normally display the rugs hanging on the two centermost rug hangers.

| 72] Inventor Leon H. Best 920,962 Galva, 111. 983,052 1211 Appl No 882,094 1,061,001 [22 Filed Dec. 4,1969 1,088.141 [45] Patented Sept. 7,1971 1,139,273 [73] Assignee John 11. Best & Sons,1nc. 1,180,480 Galva, ll]. 2,050,31 1 3,330,418

[54] RUG RACK 13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 211/47 [51] Int. Cl A471 7/16 [50] FieldofSeareh 211/47 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,172 5/1908 Judd 211/47 1 /QA P 1 o 1.).

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' 0 L9; i L4 INVENTOR LEON H. BEST AT ORNEYS RUG RACK This invention relates in general to a display rack for displaying rugs or rug samples in a showroom, and more particularly to a rug rack having a plurality of rug hangers pivotally mounted so that when the rugs are not being manually in dividually separated for display, the rugs will divide at the center and open fully to present a pair of especially chosen rugs for continual display.

Heretofore, it has been known to display rugs on a rug rack wherein the rugs are supported in hanging relation by a plurality of rug hangers and swingable toward and away from each other to permit individual observation of each rug on the rack. Such a rack has been constructed to enable the rack to open and remain open at any point, wherein movement of a rug on a rug hanger to a particular position will enable the rug and rug hanger to stay in that position until subsequently moved to another position. In a rug rack of this type, each rug hanger is hinged at its upper end to a hinge bar and pivoted at its lower end to a pivot bar. In order to cause the rug and rug hanger to remain at a displaced position, the pivot points of the rug support must be slightly ahead of the hinge points.

The rug rack of the present invention embraces the structure of heretofore known rug racks, together with the unique feature of construction which enables the rack to open by itself at the center point to fully display the two centrally hung rugs. This feature is accomplished by positioning the pivot point of a rug hanger laterally of the hinge point of the hanger in the direction opposite to which it is desired that the rug hanger freely moves by gravity.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved rug rack for displaying rugs in hung posi tion in a showroom.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a rug rack having a plurality of rug hangers hinged at the upper end and pivoted at the lower end, whereby the relationship between the pivot point and the hinge point of each rug hanger is such that the rug hanger will be under a constant gravity pull to move it to one side or the other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a rug rack for supporting a plurality of rugs or rug samples in a vertical arrangement, and constructed so that the rugs will separate at the center and fully open to present the two centrally arranged rugs on display.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of the rug rack according to the invention with all but one of the rug hangers omitted for the purpose of clarity and illustrating the rug rack in mounted relation in a showroom where it is supported between the ceiling and the floor;

FIG. 2 is a generally diagrammatic top plan view of the rug rack installation of FIG. I taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. l to illustrate the operation;

FIG. 3 is a vertical end elevational view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. I, and illustrating together with FIG. 1 the manner in which the rack is installed with the assistance of plumb lines with some parts omitted for purposes of clarity;

lFIG. i is an enlarged top plan view of the hinge bar employed in the rug rack of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pivot bar employed in the rug rack of the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary views of a portion of the hinge and pivot bars for illustrating the manner in which the pivot bar is mounted in relation to the hinge bar in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the rug rack according to the invention as mounted in one comer of a showroom;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rug rack of the invention illustrating the mounting of the hinge bar directly on a wall;

FIG. 110 is an end elevation of the installation of FIG. 9 with some parts omitted for clarity; and

FIG. III is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the installation of FIG. 9 to illustrate the operation. 5 The display rack of the present invention is described and set forth as serving to display rugs or rug samples, although it should be appreciated that it could be employed to display other products in a display room or showroom which are susceptible to being displayed in a hanging fashion. It should be appreciated that any product in sheet form may be displayed on the rack of the invention which serves to neatly and efficiently display products for sale. Rugs or rug samples are arranged in generally vertical hanging relationship by the display rack of the invention so that they may be individually observed by manipulation of the rug hangers.

The rug rack embodiment illustrated herein includes upright means in the form of a pair of uprights or posts 10 which generally coact with an upper hinge bar Ill and a lower pivot bar 12 to support a plurality of rug hangers 13 within a showroom. The rug rack as shown in FIG. I is arranged in a showroom adjacent a wall 14, although it should be appreciated that the rug rack may be mounted in a corner of a showroom as illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein the comer is formed by intersecting walls 15 and 16. g

The uprights 10 are anchored in place against the floor l7 and the ceiling 18. The lower ends of the uprights include flanges 119 facilitating the securing thereof to a base plate 20 that bears against the floor 17. The uprights include lower upright members 21a and upper extension members 21b. Extensions 2lb are telescopically received within the uprights 10 at their upper ends, and provided with flanges 22 that facilitate securing to a ceiling plate 23 which bears against the ceiling I8. The upper ends of the lower upright members 21a are threaded for securing thereon hinge bar blocks 25, while the lower ends of the extensions 21b are threaded at 24 to be threadedly received in the hinge bar blocks 25 and telescopi cally within the lower upright members 21a. During installation of the rug rack, following the desired location of the base plate 20 relative to the wall 14, the extensions 2llb with the ceiling plate 23 thereon are extended to cause the ceiling plate to engage the ceiling. It should be appreciated that the uprights 10 will be arranged in a vertical position such as may be established by placing a level along the sides thereof. In order to hold the extensions 2llb against rotating and in a centered position relative the lower upright members 211a, a plu rality of circumferentially arranged set screws 26 are provided in the upright members to bear against the extensions 21b which will extend downwardly at least into the area of the setscrews. While a pair of uprights are illustrated, it should be appreciated that any number may be provided depending upon the requirements of the installation.

The hinge bar III, is in the form of an angle iron, and includes a generally vertically extending mounting portion27, and a generally horizontal extending hinge support portion 28. The hinge bar is secured to the uprights 10 through the hinge bar blocks 25 in a horizontal position perpendicular to the uprights by being bolted thereto and also by brackets 29 which are bolted to the hinge bar blocks and to the mounting portion 27 of the hinge bar blocks and to the mounting portion 27 of the hinge bar at points spaced from the blocks. In the illustration, the hinge bar is mounted at the upper ends of the upright members 21a. As seen in FIG. 41, a plurality of equally spaced hinge holes 30 are formed in the hinge bar support portion 28, and an equal number is arranged on each side of the centerline 311. The center lines of the hinge holes extend parallel to the uprights. At opposite ends of the hinge bar on the hinge support portion midway between the two outennost hinge holes are plumb holes 32 and 33. As shown, the plumb holes are smaller than the hinge holes and the front edges thereof are aligned with the front edges of the hinge holes.

The pivot bar 112 is in the form of an elongated strip and mountable on the base plate 20. A plurality of lag screw holes 34 are provided to receive lag screws. for anchoring the pivot bar to the base plate. A plurality of pivot holes 35 extending along a common line are formed in the pivot bar. An equal number of holes are arranged on each side of the center line 36, and the holes are arranged on each side of the center line 36, and holes on each side of the center line are equally spaced relative to each other. Since the desired location of the holes in the pivot bar must be offset from corresponding holes in the hinge bar, pivot bar holes on the right side of the centerline 36 are arranged to be displaced slightly left of the holes in the hinge bar on the right side of the centerline 31, while the holes in the pivot bar on the left side of the center line 36 are arranged to be displaced slightly to the right of the corresponding holes on the left side of the center line 31 in the hinge bar as will be more clearly explained hereinafter.

Each rug hanger 13 includes an outwardly projecting arm 37 having a hinge member 38 at the rear end to coact with a hinge hole of the hinge bar, and a brace 39 extending from the arm 37 at a point intermediate its ends downwardly to a pivot bracket 40 secured at its lower end which coacts with a pivot hole in the pivot bar 12. Thus, a hinge axis or point is established at the lower end of each hanger. The upper end of each brace 39 may be secured to an arm 37 in any suitable manner at any desired point therealong so as to provide suitable bracing support therefor. Each rug hanger is pivotally mounted in a set of holes including a hinge hole and a pivot hole, the relationship of which established the pivot axis for the hanger. The spacing of the pivot holes 35 from each other on each side of the centerline 36 is identical to the spacing of the hinge holes 30 in the hinge bar. However, it should be appreciated that the two centermost pivot holes 35, on each side of the center line 36, are closer together than the pivot hole spacing on each side of the center line, while the spacing between the two centermost hinge holes 30, one on each side of the centerline 31, is equal to the spacing of the holes on either side of the center line.

The embodiment of FIGS. 9-11 differs only in that the hinge bar is supported on the wall instead of uprights. A wall plate 50 is mounted onto the wall 14, upon which the hinge bar 11 is mounted in parallel relation to the floor 17. The pivot bar 12 is mounted on the base plate 20 as in the other embodiment, and the base plate is secured to the floor following the positioning of the pivot bar relative the hinge bar. it should be recognized that any suitable means may be employed to mount the hinge and pivot bars in their respective positions.

The plumbing of the rug rack during its initial installation is critical in order to obtain the proper relationship between the sets of holes for receiving the rug hangers. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of plumb lines 41 and 42 having plumb bobs 43 and 44 respectively, are respectively suspended in plumb holes 32 and 33 formed in the hinge bar 11. As seen in FIG. 6,the plumb line 42 is positioned at the front edge center of the plumb hole 33 on the centerline 33a, and suitably locked in place, as by a wood peg 45 as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, the plumb line 41 is locked in place to the plumb hole 32. The plumb lines should be of such length that the points of the plumb bobs just clear the upper surface of the pivot bar to facilitate accurate aligning of the plumb bob points to points on the pivot bar. The base plate 20 is then shifted to position the center back edges of the outermost pivot holes 35 in alignment with the points of plumb bobs 43 and 44, thereby effectively displacing the pivot holes on the right side of the center line 36 slightly to the left of the corresponding hinge holes on the hinge bar and the pivot holes on the left side of the centerline slightly to the right of the corresponding hinge holes on the hinge bar. Thus, the base plate with the pivot bar secured thereto is moved to one side or the other, forward or backward, until the plumb bob points hang immediately over the center of the back edges of the outermost pivot holes, as indicated at 45 in FIG. 7. The base plate is then suitably secured in place. It should be appreciated that the pivot holes 35 are displaced slightly outwardly away from the uprights relative the hinge holes 30.

Where the pivot holes have so been heretofore aligned with the hinge holes, but in plumb alignment therewith, swinging of a rug hanger to any position effects movement to that position where the hanger will remain until further swung to another position. Where the pivot holes are displaced laterally from the hinge holes as in the present invention, the pivot holes on the right side of the centerline 36 being displaced left of the hinge holes, and the pivot holes on the left side of the centerline 36 being displaced right of the hinge holes, the rug hangers on the right side of the centerlines of the hinge and pivot bars will be under a constant gravity pull, due to the side plumbing, to move to the right in the right half of the rack, while the rug hangers on the left side of the center lines will be under a constant gravity pull to move to the left side of the rack, except when all of the rug hangers are moved as far as possible to the right or left side in which case they will stay there. Accordingly, following the manual movement of the rug hangers, upon releasing same, the hangers on the right side will move right, while the hangers on the left side will move left to attain the position shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 11, wherein the two centermost rug hangers will display the two centermost rugs or samples. The rack will be in open position with the centermost rugs on constant display. In order to prevent swinging of the rug hangers beyond a predetermined point, hanger arm stops 46 are mounted on the hinge bar at opposite ends. As already indicated, when showing rugs, if the salesman moves all the rug hangers to the right or left side as far as possible, the hangers will stay there. The salesman can then start moving the hangers individually to display the line and when the hanger swings past the center line it will continue onto its final position under the force of gravity.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a rug rack of the invention will facilitate the continual display of two especially chosen rugs on the centermost rug hangers when the rug hangers are in open position as will be accomplished by the side plumbing, which function will come about automatically following the displaying of the rugs by a system where the rugs will have been moved from their normal locations.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A rug rack for displaying a plurality of rugs in a showroom, said rack comprising, a hinge bar, a pivot bar, and rug hanger means pivotally supported by said hinge and pivot bars, means supporting said pivot bar in a generally horizontal position and said hinge bar in vertically spaced superposed relation to the pivot bar and generally parallel thereto, said hinge bar having hinge hole means, said pivot bar having a pivot hole means, wherein the hinge hole means coacts with the pivot hole means, wherein the hinge hole means coacts with the pivot hole means as a set to support said rug hanger means, said rug hanger means having means to coact with said hinge hole means and said pivot hole means, and the pivot hole means being vertically offset from the hinge hole means to cause the rug hanger means to normally move by gravity to one side.

2. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein the hinge and pivot bar hole means each include a plurality of holes defining a plurality of sets of holes, and said rug hanger means includes a plurality of rug hangers, one for each set of holes.

3. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot bar is mounted on the floor and said hinge bar is mounted on the wall.

4. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot bar is mounted on the floor and said hinge bar is mounted on upright means supported between the floor and ceiling.

5. A rug rack as defined in claim 2, wherein the pivot hole of each set is laterally displaced from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole, and wherein pivot holes of some sets are laterally displaced to one side of the plumb line while pivot holes of other sets are laterally displaced to the other side of the plumb line to cause some rug hangers thereon to move to one side and other rug hangers with rugs thereon to move to the opposite side.

6. A rug rack for displaying a plurality of rugs in a showroom, said rack comprising, upright support means, a hinge bar secured to said upright means in spaced relation above the floor, a pivot bar at the floor adjacent the upright means and extending parallel to said hinge bar, said hinge bar having a plurality of hinge holes, said pivot bar having a plurality of pivot holes of equal number to the hinge holes, a plurality of rug hangers pivotally supported by said hinge and pivot bars, each rug hanger having a hinge at its upper end to hingedly connect to a hinge hole in the hinge bar and a pivot at its lower end to pivotally engage a pivot hole in the pivot bar, whereby each rug hanger coacts with a hinge hole and a pivot hole as a set, and the pivot holes being offset vertically from the hinge holes to cause the rug hanger to normally move by gravity to one side.

7. A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein the pivot hole of each set is laterally displaced from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole.

8. A rug rack as defined in claim 7, wherein pivot holes of some sets are laterally displaced to one side of the plumb line while pivot holes of other sets are laterally displaced to the other side of the plumb line to cause some rug hangers with rugs thereon to move to the opposite side.

9. A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein said upright means includes a pair of parallel extending uprights.

M). A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein the pivot hole of each set is displaced laterally and forward from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole.

iii. A rack for displaying rugs or the like in a showroom which comprises a pair of vertically arranged uprights, means anchoring the uprights to the floor and ceiling of the showroom, a hinge bar secured to said uprights and extending normal thereto, a pivot bar secured to said floor adjacent the uprights in parallel relation and substantially vertical alignment to the hinge bar, a plurality of hinge holes in the hinge bar, a plurality of pivot holes in said pivot bar of the same number as the hinge holes, wherein generally opposed hinge and pivot holes define a set, a plurality of display hangers, one for each set of holes, each hanger having a hinge member at the upper end hingedly coacting with a hinge hole of a set of holes and a pivot member at the lower end pivotally coacting with the pivot hole of the set, and means for positioning said pivot hole of each set laterally of the vertical axis of said corresponding hinge hole of the set, whereby the display hanger will continually be under a gravity pull to move the hanger to one side of the rack.

12. A rack as defined in claim 111, wherein said positioning means includes a plumb hole in said hinge bar between a pair of adjacent hinge holes, one edge being tangent to a line common in tangent to said pair of hinge holes, whereby a plumb line positioned at the tangent line of the plumb hole on a centerline thereof extending normal to the: tangent line will have a plumb bob extending therefrom with its point aligned with a common tangent line of the pivot holes and at a centerline of a hole which extends normal to said tangent line.

113. A rack as defined in claim 12, wherein equal sets of holes are arranged on each side of centerlines extending normally through said bars, wherein the sets on the right side of the centerlines are arranged to cause the display hangers coacting therewith to move to the right under the pull of gravity while the sets on the left side of the centerlines are arranged to cause the display hangers coacting therewith to move to the left under the pull of gravity. 

1. A rug rack for displaying a plurality of rugs in a showroom, said rack comprising, a hinge bar, a pivot bar, and rug hanger means pivotally supported by said hinge and pivot bars, means supporting said pivot bar in a generally horizontal position and said hinge bar in vertically spaced superposed relation to the pivot bar and generally parallel thereto, said hinge bar having hinge hole means, said pivot bar having a pivot hole means, wherein the hinge hole means coacts with the pivot hole means, wherein the hinge hole means coacts with the pivot hole means as a set to support said rug hanger means, said rug hanger means having means to coact with said hinge hole means and said pivot hole means, and the pivot hole means being vertically offset from the hinge hole means to cause the rug hanger means to normally move by gravity to one side.
 2. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein the hinge and pivot bar hole means each include a plurality of holes defining a plurality of sets of holes, and said rug hanger means includes a plurality of rug hangers, one for each set of holes.
 3. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot bar is mounted on the floor and said hinge bar is mounted on the wall.
 4. A rug rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot bar is mounted on the floor and said hinge bar is mounted on upright means supported between the floor and ceiling.
 5. A rug rack as defined in claim 2, wherein the pivot hole of each set is laterally displaced from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole, and wherein pivot holes of some sets are laterally displaced to one side of the plumb line while pivot holes of other sets are laterally displaced to the other side of the plumb line to cause some rug hangers thereon to move to one side and other rug hangers with rugs thereon to move to the opposite side.
 6. A rug rack for displaying a plurality of rugs in a showroom, said rack comprising, upright support means, a hinge bar secured to said upright means in spaced relation above the floor, a pivot bar at the floor adjacent the upright means and extending parallel to said hinge bar, said hinge bar having a plurality of hinge holes, said pivot bar having a plurality of pivot holes of equal number to the hinge holes, a plurality of rug hangers pivotally supported by said hinge and pivot bars, each rug hanger having a hinge at its upper end to hingedly connect to a hinge hole in the hinge bar and a pivot at its lower end to pivotally engage a pivot hole in the pivot bar, whereby each rug hanger coacts with a hinge hole and a pivot hole as a set, and the pivot holes being offset vertically from the hinge holes to cause the rug hanger to normally move by gravity to one side.
 7. A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein the pivot hole of each set is laterally displaced from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole.
 8. A rug rack as defined in claim 7, wherein pivot holes of some sets are laterally displaced to one side of the plumb line while pivot holes of other sets are laterally displaced to the other side of the plumb line to cause some rug hangers with rugs thereon to move to the opposite side.
 9. A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein said upright means includes a pair of parallel extending uprights.
 10. A rug rack as defined in claim 6, wherein the pivot hole of each set is displaced laterally and forward from a plumb line extending from the hinge hole.
 11. A rack for displaying rugs or the like in a showroom which comprises a pair of vertically arranged uprights, means anchoring the uprights to the flooR and ceiling of the showroom, a hinge bar secured to said uprights and extending normal thereto, a pivot bar secured to said floor adjacent the uprights in parallel relation and substantially vertical alignment to the hinge bar, a plurality of hinge holes in the hinge bar, a plurality of pivot holes in said pivot bar of the same number as the hinge holes, wherein generally opposed hinge and pivot holes define a set, a plurality of display hangers, one for each set of holes, each hanger having a hinge member at the upper end hingedly coacting with a hinge hole of a set of holes and a pivot member at the lower end pivotally coacting with the pivot hole of the set, and means for positioning said pivot hole of each set laterally of the vertical axis of said corresponding hinge hole of the set, whereby the display hanger will continually be under a gravity pull to move the hanger to one side of the rack.
 12. A rack as defined in claim 11, wherein said positioning means includes a plumb hole in said hinge bar between a pair of adjacent hinge holes, one edge being tangent to a line common in tangent to said pair of hinge holes, whereby a plumb line positioned at the tangent line of the plumb hole on a centerline thereof extending normal to the tangent line will have a plumb bob extending therefrom with its point aligned with a common tangent line of the pivot holes and at a centerline of a hole which extends normal to said tangent line.
 13. A rack as defined in claim 12, wherein equal sets of holes are arranged on each side of centerlines extending normally through said bars, wherein the sets on the right side of the centerlines are arranged to cause the display hangers coacting therewith to move to the right under the pull of gravity while the sets on the left side of the centerlines are arranged to cause the display hangers coacting therewith to move to the left under the pull of gravity. 